Push together tube connector

ABSTRACT

A connector for coupling tube ends by pushing the ends into the connector. The assembly comprises a housing having two separable sections, an inner body insert within the housing into which the tube ends are pushed, from opposite sides, annular seals retained by the inner body insert and engaging the tube ends, and at least one outer body insert confining its adjacent seal and held in place by the housing. Partial separation of the housing sections will permit pressurized fluid in the connection to force the outer body insert away from the inner body insert, freeing the adjacent seal and permitting slow leakage. This will prevent a sudden spurt of fluid such as Freon from causing injury to the operator. Reconnection is obtained by reuniting the housing sections.

United States Patet Reinker, Jr. 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] PUSH TOGETHER TUBECONNECTOR FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Joseph F.Reinker, Jr., Parma, Mich. 1,104,741 6/1955 France ..285/353 [73]Assignee: Aeroquip Corporation, Jackson, Mich. Primary Examiner DaveArola 221 Filed: Feb. 24, 1970 Attorney-Jerry Harness 1 1 pp 13,438 57ABSTRACT A connector for coupling tube ends by pushing the ends into Cl2 5/ the connector. The assembly comprises a housing having two 285/DIG.25 separable sections, an inner body insert within the housing [51] Int.Cl ..F16l 17/00 into which the tube ends are pushed, from oppositesides, an- [58] Field of Search ..285/13, 14, 369, DIG. 25, 348, nularseals retained by the inner body insert and engaging the 285/353, 354,340, 349, DIG. 19; 137/583 tube ends, and at least one outer body insertconfining its adjacent seal and held in place by the housing. Partialseparation 56] Ref e Ci of the housing sections will permit pressurizedfluid in the connection to force the outer body insert away from theinner UNITED STATES PATENTS body insert, freeing the adjacent seal andpermitting slow v leakage. This will prevent a sudden spurt of fluidsuch as 264470o 7/1953 woodlmgm "285/349 X Freon from causing injury tothe operator. Reconnection is 3,425,717 Bruce X obtained y reuniting thei g sections. 2,691,537 10/1954 Boshurk ..285/340 3,405,957 10/ 1968Chakroff 285/369 X 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures [7 j! f if j/ 4Z 2 A /7,7] s fisj -4; :s [j l\\ \T) Z/ /Z Z 4;

4/ j j; 4 4/ 1% y 4/ PUSH TOGETHER TUBE CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION l. Field of the Invention The invention relates to tubeconnectors, and more particu-- larlytoconnectors adapted to couple tubeendsin a quick manner permitting uncoupling and recoupling for servicingor maintenance purposes. Such connectors are useful for examplein-coupling tubes extending from components of an automotiveair-conditioning system, since such connections may have to betemporarily uncoupled from time to time for servicmg purposes.

2. BriefDescription of the Prior Art Conventional connectors for thispurpose have several drawbacks which it is an object of the presentinvention to ov'ercomei'ln' some cases the tube ends must be attached tothe connector by time consuming operations, and it is difficult in manyinstances to uncouple and recouple the connector. The danger of a suddenrelease of fluid in the vicinity of an operator, causing'possibleinjury, is another disadvantage of previous types of tube endconnectors.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the-invention, a connectoris provided having two mating housing sections which may be screwedtogether. An inner body insert is enclosed by these housing sections andhas a pair of bores into which the tube ends may be inserted fromopposite ends. The insert carries a pair of annular sealswhich engagethe outer surfaces of the tubes, and the housings have spring gripwashers which permit the tubes to be inserted but prevent their removal.

At least one outer body insert is provided, this member. beingheld by ahousing section and further confining the annular seal when the partsare in their assembled position. If it is desired to uncouple theconnector, the housing sections are separated by unscrewing them, thetube ends being withdrawn from the inner body insert. Should pressure bepresent in the line, the seal adjacent the outer body insert will followthis member as partial unscrewing of the housing section occurs. Thiswill free the annular seal from its confined position resultingin a slowleakage of fluid from the end. This will prevent possible harm to anoperator which might otherwise occur with a sudden pressure release. Theparts may be reassembled by replacing the outer body insert and seal onthe inner body insert and screwing together the housing sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view inelevation taken along the line l-l of FIG. 2 and showing the connectorwith the tubes in their coupled position;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of a connector; and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing one of the outer bodyinserts in its partially separated position so that the adjacent seal isunconfined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The connector is generallyindicated at 11 and comprises a housing generally indicated at 12.having a pair of sections 13 and 14. These sections are of hollowconstruction, having end walls 15 and 16 respectively which haveclearance apertures 17 and 18. The apertures are adapted to receive theends of a pair of tubes 19 and 21 which may be connected to componentssuch as 22 and 23 of an automotive air conditioning system.

The main portions of housing sections 13 and 14 have formed threads 24and 25 respectively so that the sections may be screwed together orseparated at will. An inner body insert 26 is disposed within thehousing. This insert has a pair of bores 27 and 28 adapted to receivetubes 19 and 21 respectively. The bores terminate in sloping shoulders29and 31 which will limit the inward movement of the tubes when they arereceived by the insert. Bores 27 and 28 are interconnected by a centralpassage 32.

A pair of spring grip washers 33 and 34 are provided, these washershaving inwardly extending fingers 35 adapted to grip tubes 19 or21 whenthey are placedin insert 26. Springs 33 and 34 are held in position-byend walls 15 and 16 respectively, and fingers 35 will be inclined towardthe central portion of the connector and will grip the tube walls toprevent withdrawal thereof.

A pair of outwardly and downwardly open recesses 36 and 37 are formed inthe opposite ends of insert 26 and retain seals 38 and 39 respectively.These seals are'of annular shape and engage the outer surfaces of tubes19 and 21 to prevent leakage. In the assembled position of the parts,seals 38 and 39 are held in position by a pair of outer body inserts and42. Thesemembers are slidably mounted on reduced portions of inner bodyinsert 26 and have inwardly extending shoulders 43 and. 44 whichholdseals 38 and 39 in their respective recesses and in sealing relationwith the tubes. The outer ends 45 and 46, of inserts 41 and42 are offrustoconical shape to permit lifting of washers 33 and 34 by a suitabletool (not shown) whereby the tubes may be inserted without scarringtheir surfaces.

In operation, the connector parts may be coupled to their respectivetubes 19 and2l. before they are assembled to each other, but normally,particularly where high production is involved, the connector will bepreassembled before being attached to the tubes. Thepreassembledconnector will include housing sections 13 and 14, innerbodyinsert 26, seals 38 and 39, outer body inserts 41 and 42 andgripping washers33 and 34. This assembly may be attached to tubes 19 and21 by lifting grips 33 and 34 by the aforementioned tool and slippingthe tubes into position as shown in FIG. 1. The tubes will be sealed totheconnector by seals 38 and 39 which are confined between inner bodyinsert 26 and the outer body inserts.

In order to uncouple the connector for servicing, housing sections 13vand 14 will be unscrewed from each other. For this purpose the ends 47and 48 of housing sections 13 and 14 respectively are of hexagonalshape, thereby permitting a wrench to be applied thereto.

As the sections begin to separate, one or both of outer body inserts 41and 42 will begin to move away from inner body insert 26. FIG. 3 showsinsert 42 in its retracted position. This movement will take placebecause of the pressure within the line acting on seals 38 and 39. Itwill be evident from FIG. 3 that after seal 39 leaves the confines ofits recess 37, fluid, will be permitted to leak slowly around seal 39and out through the annular space between insert 42 and tube 21 to theatmosphere. In this manner the danger of a sudden spurt of fluid, whichcould injure the operator will be prevented.

Housing sections 13 and 14 may be left in their partially separatedcondition until all internal pressure has been released. After sections13 and 14 have been completely detached from each other, any of theinserts 26, 41 and 42 may be removed together with seals 38 and 39 forservicing or replacement. Tubes 19 and 21 will continue to be connectedto their respective housing sections 13 and 14 by washers 33 and 34.

To recouple the connector, the outer body inserts 41 and 42 togetherwithseals 38 and 39 will be assembled to inner body insert 26. Tubes 19 and21 will then be inserted in the inserts and through seals 38 and 39,while housing sections 13 and 14 are screwed together. It should benoted that during the coupling and uncoupling operations, it will beunnecessary to use any tool to separate spring grip washers 33 and 34from the tubes.

It should be observed that although outer body inserts 47 and 48 areshown in the illustrated embodiment, only one is necessary to providethe desired slow leakage effect when the connector is uncoupled. In suchcase the other end of the inner body insert would be integrally formedto retain its seal.

What is claimed is:

ll. In a push together tube connector, a housing having manuallyseparable sections, and holding means to hold said sections togetheran:inner body insert enclosed by said housing, clearance, apertures insaid housing sections and boresin said insert for receiving tube endsfrom opposite directions, gripping members within said housingengageable between the inserted tubes and said housing to preventwithdrawal of said gripping members and said tubes, a recess at each endof said insert, seals in said recesses engageable with the outer tubesurfaces, and at least one outer body insert within said housingadjacent one of said ends thereof and slidable axially on said innerbody insert, said outer body insert being held against said inner bodyinsert by said housing and having a radially inwardly extending faceengageable with the seal in the recess of said one of said ends of saidinner body insert, the outer body insert being movable between a normalposition confining its adjacent seal so that the latter may perform itssealing function, and a retracted position in which said seal isunconfined for sealing purposes so as to permit leakage of fluid to theatmosphere, said outer body insert being movable from its normal to itsretracted position in response to pressure exerted on said seal whensaid housing sections are manually partially separated.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said holding means on saidhousing sections having interengaging threads formed thereon, parts ofsaid sections having tool engageable surfaces whereby they may beunscrewed from each other.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said gripping memberscomprising washers of frustoconical shape and having inwardly extendingfingers engaging said tube.

4. The combination according to claim 3, said holding means on saidhousing sections comprising interengaging threads formed thereoninwardly extending flanges at the ends of said members retaining saidhousing sections having said washers.

5. The combination according to claim 1, further provided with a secondouter body insert mounted for axial movement at the other end of saidinner body insert and movable between normal and retracted positions inthe same manner as said first mentioned outer body insert.

rum: (in

Patent No. 3,6 5,567 Dated February 29, 1972 Joseph F. Reinker, Jr.

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 11, "thereon inwardly extending flanges at the ends ofsaid members retaining said housing sectionshaving said washers." shouldread thereon, said housing sections having inwardly extending flanges atthe ends of said members retaining said washers.

Signed and sealed this 24th day ofGctober 1972.

( SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PC4050 (169) USCOMM-DC suave-pee .5. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFlCE 955 S6'334

1. In a push together tube connector, a housing having manuallyseparable sections, and holding means to hold said sections together aninner body insert enclosed by said housing, clearance apertures in saidhousing sections and bores in said insert for receiving tube ends fromopposite directions, gripping members within said housing engageablebetween the inserted tubes and said housing to prevent withdrawal ofsaid gripping members and said tubes, a recess at each end of saidinsert, seals in said recesses engageable with the outer tube surfaces,and at least one outer body insert within said housing adjacent one ofsaid ends thereof and slidable axially on said inner body insert, saidouter body insert being held against said inner body insert by saidhousing and having a radially inwardly extending face engageable withthe seal in the recess of said one of said ends of said inner bodyinsert, the outer body insert being movable between a normal positionconfining its adjacent seal so that the latter may perform its sealingfunction, and a retracted position in which said seal is unconfined forsealing purposes so as to permit leakage of fluid to the atmosphere,said outer body insert being movable from its normal to its retractedposition in response to pressure exerted on said seal when said housingsections are manually partially separated.
 2. The combination accordingto claim 1, said holding means on said housing sections havinginterengaging threads formed thereon, parts of said sections having toolengageable surfaces whereby they may be unscrewed from each other. 3.The combination according to claim 1, said gripping members comprisingwashers of frustoconical shape and having inwardly extending fingersengaging said tube.
 4. The combination according to claim 3, saidholding means on said housing sections comprising interengaging threadsformed thereon inwardly extending flanges at the ends of said membersretaining said housing sections having said washers.
 5. The combinationaccording to claim 1, further provided with a second outer body insertmounted for axial movement at the other end of said inner body insertand movable between normal and retracted positions in the same manner assaid first mentioned outer body insert.